kukicha; twig tea; stem tea
A Japanese green tea made from stems and twigs of the tea plant, often pruned during the dormant season. Milder and less caffeine than leaf teas.
Kukicha has less caffeine than regular sencha.
This kukicha has a mellow flavor.
Bancha is a lower-grade tea from larger, coarser leaves, whereas kukicha uses stems and twigs.
Standard modern kanji spelling.
Contains outdated kanji 莖; rarely used today.
Compound of 茎 (kuki, 'stem') + 茶 (cha, 'tea').